Assessing clinical improvement in patients braced for meniscus injury
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing clinical improvement in patients braced for meniscus injury
IRAS ID
351916
Contact name
Leela Biant
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
The menisci are two crescent-shaped pieces of tissue in the knee that help with smooth movement of the joint. Meniscus injuries are a fairly common result of ageing, as the tissue weakens as you get older. The menisci cannot repair by themselves, so surgery is sometimes used to repair them. However, surgery is not always successful and it can end can exacerbate the progression of tissue degeneration within the joint.
A current alternative to undergoing surgery is to wear a brace on the knee, which helps to take some of the weight off the injured areas in the joint and can help to keep the knee stable. This research is going to investigate whether wearing a brace on the knee for 6 weeks can objectively improve movement and whether is can reduce painful or limiting symptoms in patients who have meniscus injuries.
Adult patients who are prescribed a knee brace for their meniscal injury by their Orthopaedic surgeon will be invited to take part. If they decide to take part, they will be asked to attend two research appointments at Trafford General Hospital. At each appointment, they will undertake biomechanical assessments, including range of motion testing, balance and stability tests and a walking assessment on a treadmill. They will also be asked to fill in some questionnaires on how their knee feels, how easy or difficult they find daily living tasks, and how much pain they experience.
This research will help us understand if using a brace can change the way the knee moves and alleviate symptoms related to meniscal injuries. This is important as we know that surgery is not always appropriate or effective for patients with degenerative meniscus injuries. The research could provide valuable information for doctors.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0056
Date of REC Opinion
20 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion